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The Burren

The Burren

The Burren

The Burren

The Burren

The Burren

The Burren

Escorted Tours

Gardens of Scotland – Dumfries and Galloway

Blessed by the mild Gulf Stream climate of Scotland’s south-west coast, Dumfries and Galloway is home to some of the most spectacular and diverse gardens in Britain. Accompanied throughout by renowned horticulturist Trevor Edwards, this tour explores a wonderful variety of landscapes, from the exotic plant collections of Logan Botanic Garden and the historic grandeur of Castle Kennedy Gardens to a selection of outstanding private gardens, each reflecting the passion, creativity and expertise of their owners. Together, they showcase why this corner of Scotland has long been regarded as one of the country’s premier gardening destinations.

With exclusive visits, expert insight, comfortable accommodation and the opportunity to enjoy the outstanding scenery of south-west Scotland, this is a rewarding tour for gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

From

£1,595

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts, two lunches and four dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Four nights accommodation at the Holiday Inn, Dumfries, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room.
  • Discover the Gardens of Scotland – Dumfries and Galloway
    Highlights include Logan Botanic Garden, Dumfries House and Drumlanrig Castle, Threave Garden, Castle Kennedy Gardens, and the Gardens of Galloway.
  • Your Expert Guide
    Expert Trevor Edwards and tour manager throughout.
  • Transport & Travel
    Full coach touring itinerary.
Trevor Edwards
Meet Your Expert Guide

Trevor Edwards

Trevor is a lifelong horticulturist whose career has ranged from retail horticulture to garden design, project management and restoration. In recent years, he has become closely involved in garden tourism, managing tours in Ireland, the UK and destinations across Europe and much further afield.

A regular tour manager and lecturer on the gardens of Ireland, Trevor has also appeared on garden-themed television and radio programmes. His practical experience, broad knowledge and warm guiding style make him an ideal companion for exploring gardens both grand and intimate.

Meet Our Expert Guides
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager’s discretion.

Day 1: Arrival in Dumfries

Arrive independently at the hotel from 15:00, and settle in before meeting fellow travellers for a welcome drink. This evening, horticultural expert Trevor Edwards introduces the gardens of south-west Scotland, then dinner with wine is served in the hotel restaurant.

Day 2: Logan Botanic Garden, Castle Kennedy Gardens and Glenwhan Gardens

Travel to the Rhins of Galloway, where the mild climate nurtures an extraordinary range of plants. Begin at Logan Botanic Garden, Scotland’s most exotic garden, renowned for its palms, tree ferns and Southern Hemisphere collections. Continue to Castle Kennedy Gardens, where sweeping avenues, specimen trees and impressive rhododendron collections frame the historic castle ruins and loch-side setting.

Later, visit Glenwhan Gardens, an inspiring hillside garden overlooking Luce Bay, known for its imaginative planting and far-reaching views. Return to the hotel for dinner with wine.

Day 3: Broughton House, Kirkcudbright, Ellenbank and Threave Garden

Visit Broughton House & Garden, the former home of artist E.A. Hornel, where a distinctive Japanese-inspired garden reflects his travels and artistic vision. Continue to the harbour town of Kirkcudbright, with free time for lunch and exploration.

This afternoon, discover the specialist plant collections at Elizabeth MacGregor Nursery, Ellenbank, before visiting Threave Garden, one of Scotland’s finest horticultural gardens, with its celebrated borders, productive gardens and woodland setting. Return to the hotel.

Day 4: Dumfries House and Drumlanrig Castle

Explore two of Scotland’s great country estates. At Dumfries House, enjoy guided tours of the house and gardens, learning about its outstanding collections and ongoing estate projects. Lunch is included.

This afternoon, continue to Drumlanrig Castle, seat of the Duke of Buccleuch, for guided tours of both castle and gardens, with insights from the Head Gardener into the estate’s impressive planting and landscape design. Return to the hotel for dinner with wine.

Day 5: Arbigland House and Brooklands

Begin at Arbigland House, a historic Solway estate whose gardens combine elegant planting with coastal views. The estate is also associated with John Paul Jones, founder of the United States Navy.
Continue to Brooklands, large old walled garden with a wide selection including some interesting shrubs and climbers plus a kitchen garden.

Return to the hotel at approximately 17:00.

Post-tour nights are available at a supplement.

Availability

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Date
Departing From
Price From
Availability
21/06/2027
Dumfries
£1,595
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Solo Traveller Supplement From: £216
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Holiday Inn, Dumfries
Located within the picturesque Crichton Estate just south of Dumfries, this comfortable hotel enjoys a peaceful setting surrounded by attractive grounds. The hotel offers well-appointed en-suite bedrooms with modern amenities, together with a restaurant, lounge bar, lift, complimentary Wi-Fi and free parking. Its convenient location provides easy access to Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.

Nearest train station: Dumfries Railway Station, approximately 2 miles away.

Hotel Website  

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating due to the amount of time spent walking and standing at attractions. As it is a garden tour, footpaths may be grassed, gravel or paved, and may be muddy.
 
A good level of fitness and mobility will help you enjoy the full experience of the itinerary. Please read the day-by-day itinerary carefully, as we highlight specific practical details wherever possible. This may include notes about ground conditions, stairs, walking distances, coach access or sites where lifts are not available.
 
If you have any questions about whether this tour is suitable for you, please contact our team before booking. We are always happy to talk through the itinerary and help you make the right choice.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. A reminder will be sent to you approximately 10 days before the balance due date. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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